There were heated exchanges as the future of RAF Leuchars and Fife Council’s “scandalous” handling of the care home saga were forced to the top of the political agenda at The Courier’s hustings in Cupar.
Politicians vying to represent North East Fife wasted no time in going on the offensive at Elmwood College.
Responding to a question over the future of RAF Leuchars under threat as a result of swingeing Ministry of Defence budget cuts Labour’s Colin Davidson launched a thinly-veiled attack on his Liberal Democrat and Conservative rivals.
“The effect on the local economy of closure would be devastating,” he said. “Sadly, the threat seems to have been used by some politicians to shamefully stand outside RAF Leuchars for photocalls despite it being their parties which may be about to close it.”
UKIP candidate Mike Scott-Hayward was even more blunt, branding the Tories’ defence policies “crap” and demanding Lib Dem candidate Iain Smith resign the whip over the issue.
In response, Mr Smith said the strategic case for retention of RAF Leuchars was “overwhelming”. He also pointed out that he, along with local MP Sir Menzies Campbell, had taken that case “right to the heart of government.”
Meanwhile, Tory hopeful Miles Briggs preferred to focus on the work being done by campaigners in Leuchars, branding their efforts “fantastic”.
“I am committed to fighting for the future of RAF Leuchars if I am elected,” he said.
The SNP’s Rod Campbell claimed the Westminster government was “playing with people’s lives.”
“The length of time taken to reach a decision has been a travesty,” he said. “Closure of the base would be a tragedy for both Fife and for Scotland.”
Mr Campbell also suggested the Lib Dems had been slow to respond to the threat posed to Leuchars something that clearly riled Mr Smith.
In a stinging rebuke to the SNP he pointed out, “It took Alex Salmond just 10 hours to get to Lossiemouth (the RAF base in Moray which is also thought to be under threat) but 10 weeks to get to Leuchars.”
Any hopes those on the stage had for a slightly easier ride following the angry opening exchanges were dashed as the thorny issue of care homes was raised by an irate member of public.
Fife Council’s decision to privatise all local authority-run care homes, despite opposition from the public, was described as “scandalous” by Mr Davidson.
He accused the local authority of ignoring the views of Fifers and alleged that the council had begun speaking to “potential investors” before a public consultation exercise had even been completed.
Next up was Mr Smith, who struggled to make himself heard as hecklers took exception to his assertion there had been “too much scaremongering.”
The Lib Dem candidate went on to suggest people should be less concerned about who runs care homes and more worried about the quality of care on offer.
Mr Briggs said the council’s handling of the situation had been “shameful”, while Mr Campbell admitted that the SNP-led administration’s decision was “massively controversial.”
Mr Scott-Hayward agreed the affair had been badly handled but insisted the decision to privatise care homes was the right one.
There was a rare moment of relative calm as responding to questions from representatives of the Fife Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) candidates agreed a radical overhaul of broadband services was required for North East Fife.
All candidates said they would aim to bring “superfast” broadband to the constituency, although none promised to do so within the year time frame suggested by the FSB.
Options for town centre regeneration and renewable energy also proved to be hot topics for lively debate at the event.